Hanger structure



March 30, 1965 B. K. MILBOURNE 3,175,696

HANGER STRUCTURE Filed April 17, 1963 INVENTOR. BENJAMIN K. MILBOURNE ATTORNEY nited States Patent 3,175,696 HANGER STRUCTURE Benjamin K. Milhourne, San Jose, Calif., assignor to K.C.K. Holding Company, a partnership Filed Apr. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 273,661 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-66) This invention relates to a hanger structure and more particularly relates to a hanger structure which may be used as a drying rack and mounted behind a door using the hinge structure of a conventional door as a support. Thus, the hanger or dryer of the present invention may be mounted on a door such as a bathroom door or kitchen door without the use of tools and without the defacement of the door or frame in any manner.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a drying rack which is simple in structure and which can be mounted on a door without the defacement of the door.

Another object of this invention is to provide a drying rack which is door mounted and which is adjustable so that it can be used on doors having diiferent spaces between hinges.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a drying rack having its own self-contained drip pan so that wet lingerie, wash-and-wear shirts and the like can be drip dried without getting water on the floor.

Other objects will be apparent from the specification which follows.

In the drawings forming a part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the drying rack embodying the present invention mounted on a door.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged exploded partial view of the upper bracket.

FIGURE 3 is an end view on line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view showing the method of mounting the drip pan and is a sectional view on the line 44 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, there is shown a conventional door generally designated 5 which is mounted on an upper hinge 7 and a lower hinge 9. The structure of the present invention includes an upper horizontal member 11 which has a vertical pin 13 at one end thereof as an integral part of the structure. The horizontal member 11 may be provided with an angular brace 15 extending from a point on the pin portion 13 to a point on the arm structure 11 as shown. Opposite the pin is a downturned portion 12. The downturned portion 12 may be a piece of fiat stock welded to 11 or it may be formed integral with 11. In any event, it has a series of holes 14 therein, the purpose of which will be later explained. A U-shaped member 16 is welded on at the juncture of 11 and 12 and serves to prevent the bar from swinging against the door and also as a coat hanger or the like. The conventionel hinge pin has been removed from the hinge 7 and the pin portion 13 of the horizontal member has been inserted in its place.

A lower horizontal member 17 is provided which also terminates in a pin portion 19, the pin portion 19 replacing the conventional hinge pin in the hinge 9. At the opposite end of the horizontal member 17 is an upturned end portion 21 which is formed like the downturned portion of the upper member and which has a similar series of holes 18 therein. The hinge pin 19 also supports brace 23 which is formed the same as the upper brace 15.

Mounted between the downturned end 12 of the upper member 11 and the upturned end 21 of the lower member 17 is a tubular member 27 which may support any desired structure such as a plurality of horizontal rods 29 which serve to receive towels or clothes being dried. The tubular member 27 is provided with upper cap 31 and a lower cap 33, each of which has a hole 34 passing through both the cap and the member 27 so that cotter pins 36 and 38 can be inserted through the respective caps in various holes 14 and 13 to allow adjustments depending upon the distance between the particular hinges 7 and 9 on which the structure is mounted.

If the device is to be used as a drying rack, a drip pan 35 may be provided at the bottom of the drying rack to receive any drippings from clothes being dried. The drip pan 35 has a central member 37 to which is attached a clip 39 which is passed over the lower horizontal member 17.

In the case of doors having three hinges, a similar support structure can be mounted on the middle hinge.

Although the device has been described as a drying or towel rack, the tubular member 27 can be used for various purposes as to support a cabinet, pictures, flower pots and the like.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a convenient rack which can be attached to a conventional door without the use of tools and without defacing the door structure, which rack can be readily swung into any position yet swung flush against the door when it is not in use so that it occupies little space.

I claim:

A hinged mounted rack comprising in combination:

(a) an upper horizontal support member having a vertical pin affixed at one end thereof;

(b) a lower horizontal support member having a vertical pin affixed at one end, said lower horizontal support member having a drip pan attached thereto.

(0) both of said support members being of substantially the same length; and

(d) a vertical member supported between the ends of the upper and lower support members at the ends opposite the pins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 184,050 Richards Nov. 7, 1876 365,859 Porter July 5, 1887 1,483,666 Novarik Feb. 12, 1924 1,774,524 Pratt Sept. 3, 1930 2,684,225 Johnson July 20, 1954 2,751,817 Lapekas June 26, 1956 2,778,274 Behling Jan. 22, 1957 

